Electric controller.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906. I

R. W.-BROWN. ELECTRIC CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.23. 1906-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

N0- 836,666. PATENTED NOV.'27, 19 6. R. W. BROWN'. ELECTRIC GONTROLLBR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

meets 3310, 836,666. $pecificat-ion of To abt whom it mdy concern: 1 [Be it known that I, ROY W. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Amsterdam, county of Montgomery, State of New York, have invented new and useful im- 1 provements in Electric Controllers, of which I the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric controllers and the object of my invention is to provide a controller which will operate to vary the amount of current fed to any electrical device.

The invention also consists in providing a pluralitv of switches and a means for closing the sai switches in succession as the said means is moved along in one direction.

The invention also consists in providing a plurality of switches, a means for causing the siaid switches to be closed in succession, and

to 0 en the said switches.

T e invention also consists in providing a I switch having an engaging device which slips e disclosed in the following description, illustrated in the drawings, and claimed in the claims. I

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a front view, partly in section, of one form of my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a side view, partly in section, of the device illustrated in F 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the coimectio'ns hetween the parts of the do vice illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an illustration of the front view, partly in. section, of a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the connections heti ween the parts of thedevice illustrated in Fi s. 1 and 2, is the base of my electric control er. A manual means is supported at the top of the base. The manual means consists of ahandle 2, having a cam 3, which is pivoted at 4 to a post 5, located at the top of the base 1. A ro ler 6 is adapted to move on and be raised by the surface of the cam 3 a the handle 2 is moved. Q,

The roller 6 is attached to a rod 7, which passes through and is guided by the posts 5 hROWN, OF AldSTERDAltL NEW 3 hiTFtCli, Li? R Letters Eatent. Eatented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed January 23, 1906, Serial No. 297,411.

of collars 8 8, which are located along the rod and at equal distance apart. The lower end of the rod 7 is attached to a wei ht 9. A spring 47 may be used in place of tire Wei ht 9 if it is desired, as shown in .Fi 4. he manual means located at the top of the panel 1 is adapted to move the rod in one direction, and the wei dd 9 or spring is adapted to move the rod in t 1e opposite direction.

The collars 8 are arranged. so that they will operate to close. switches or leaf-spring 16. The leai-spring contacts 16 are guided by posts 10 10, which are attached to the base 1.

Guidin pins 12 12 pass through the posts 10 10, an screw-pins 13 13 also pass through posts 10 10 and operate to guide the switches.

. The guiding-pins 12 and 13 are in each case attached to blocks 14 15, which are located on each side of the leai sfpring contact 16. The blocks 14 and 15 and t .e leaf-spring contact 16 are secured together by means of the screw-pin 13, which passes through the three parts. 'llhe movab e leaf-spring contacts make contact with the fixed contact 28, located on each side. To the lowest block 15 is also attached carbon contacts 26, which are mounted on a cross-piece 29. Rod 30 30 pass through the cross-niece 29. Springs 31 31 are located on the ends of the rod 30 30 and are adapted to press the contacts 26 against the carbons 32 and until after the leaispring 1.6 is removed from contact 28. -The contacts 32 are attached to the fixed con tfacts 28. I To the blocks 14 are pivoted engaging devices or catches 17 17. The catches 17 are forked and are provided with legs 18 and 19, which extend on each side of the head 20 of the switch below. The front 21 of the. head 20 is smooth and adapted to move over the tops of the posts 10. The lower side 2-2 of the front portion of the head is slightly undercut or beveled inward and is adapted to register with the notch or beveled portion23, located at the top of each ofthe posts 10 10.

The lower catch 17, however, has the front 1.0 are made of iron and form the poles of the electromagnet 27, located on the back of the panel. When the catch 17 is drawn upward sufficiently high so that the head of the catch extends over the end of the post 10, the catch makes a sufiiciently close contact. so that the and 11. Rod 7 is provided with a plurality electromagnet 27 will retain the catch in this LIL position and hold the switches coiniected there 'ith closed.

The catches are engaged by the collars f 5, loca id on the rod 7, 'ihe are adapted to press upon the inclined surfaces 25 of the. catches 17 when the rod (3 is raised by the operation of the cam.

The second collar 8 counting from the lower end of the rod 7 lirst comes in contact with the inclined surface-.5 of the lowest catch 17, and as the rod is raised the catch 17 drawn upward, together with the leaf-spring Hi and. the carbon contacts 26 2o, until the head of the catch 1.7 slips over the posts it). The leaf-spring contact closes with the lixed eontact-and the carbon contacts so close with the carbon contacts 32. A circuit then passes through the electromagnet 27and the post 10 becomes magnetized and the lowest catch. 17 is engaged and held thereby, which holds the lowest contact closed.

As the rod 7 moves on. in its upward direction the second collar-passes the head oi the lowest catch 17 and the next collar abore it engages the next catch 17 and draws it upward. until the li .:1.t-sprin;; attached thereto closed with the lixcd c nta0t 2s and the head 20 slips over the top of the post It) and engages in the notch .23. its the rod 7 is moved on up thp next collar comes into play and. operates upon the next catch in the same way until all oi the contacts are closed.

l ihen the rod. 7 is allowed to return, the collars are adapted to open the switches. This is done by the collars operating upon. the catches 17. The lower parts ol' the catches are provided with inclined lugs Ii- 232%, which extend outward and are located inihe path ol the collars h when the catches are in position. to hold the contacts in closed push tion. The catclms 17 being forked and the head oi each catch being; located above the lower end of the catch above it, the collar which operated to close it is adapted to ope."- ato upon the lug J ol the raicl: above ii and open the catch above it irhen the rod 7 is allowed to return, the second collar H c unting from the top ol the rod '7 lirst operates upon the inclined surl'ace ol' the [up It; disengages the uppermost calch. l7 l'roin the post ill) and the uppermost movable roulact drops and the circuit is opened at ihai point. As the rod 7 moves downward the nrx lower collar s operates upon the next catch 17' and l kewise disengages that l'rom thrpost it). \Vhen the lowest collar s rilres the lon'r-sl switch 8 in itsdownward motion, it pull-: the upper end ol the catch 17 away l'roin the post Ill and allows the contacts H3 and 2c to open.

It the rod is not drawn upward sullirieutlv to close all the -.i.m1aels,il will rrl urn by its own. weight to open the switches that it has closed. 'ln order lo hold the rod 7 in its uppermost position al'ler all ol' the movable contacts are closed, the magnet H is pr vided.

and-

pormi': the lowest a It has an armature maintains it in this closed position and holds.

the rod T until the said magnet is deenergized.

ill ol the working parts of the controller may be inclused in a case 55, ol' porcelain or any other material, and the szune filled with oil in order to prevent the arcing between the contacts and also to keep the working parts thoroughly lubricated, or the switches may be located in erunpartmonts, shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring to ihe diagram shown in Fig. 3, the controller (illustrated in Fig. l) is shown as being connected with an electric motor. The binding-p st h) is connected with the main line 4!. 'lhe other main line 42 is coni'iected to the binding-post oi the motor. The lowest contact 28 of the controller is connected to the binding-post l0, and when the low( i rontact l6 and the carbon contacts so are closed the current passes from the main. line 4] through the resistances -11; 43 to the armature ol the motor and also from the lelt contact 22 to the magnets 27 and 34 to the held of the motor. \Vhen the next eoniari. above is closed, the lowest resistance -13.

is short'cirruiied by the connection 44. to the right contact 3; ol the pair located above. When the next contact Ill isclosod,1he next resist ance -11) is shortwireuiteil, and so o nlil all ol' the resistances or as many as ar desired ol the resistances are shortwircuiieil. The current to the armature ol' the motor is tlms'regulated.

ll it is desired to open. the circuit, the switch or push-bntlon may be closed and lhe mcgi nel .27 sinutrii'oiiil.c:l. This will itch to open, since the 1p oli' l'lOlil the post. it)

lrh 11' will then,-

and :he connection wii i; the right cm'itact will be broken and tho current through magnot M will be discontinued and the armature 37 allowed to swing; down, Whicu will permit lhe rod. 7 to drop, and all olihe contacts Will be opened. By opeuiue the lowest switch lirst the carbon poinis it; will take the :II'FlltLf ol the current and will prevent any injury being; done to the lezil spring 1(3 ol any other switches.

llol'erriug to lig. l, the same numerals rcl'er to the same parts. in this l orm ol" the iuveul ion the rod is operated by means (vi a solenoid l('. 'iho rod 7 operates to lil li the (alt-hes l7,:isinlhelormol'inventionshowpin Figs. l and To the lower cud. ol' the rod. is attached a piston ha, which is located in a "cylinder' 49, which operates to cushion the -f action of thesolenoid. The piston 48 is provided with valves50, which are adapted to 7 ii be closedwhen the piston moved'u ward f andto open when the piston moves in t 1e 01p- POSllZG 'CllI'GCiJiQIl. A spring 47 may also e j used to press the piston48 downward. The contacts '16 are located in compartments 51,

," "which are made of orcelain'and prevents c any arcing between t 1e contacts of the different compartments. Each compartment, as

here shown, is separable and completely incl oses each set'of contacts;

The; diagram of the connections between he p'arts of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig.6. Here the magnet 27 is connec'tedto the switch 53, which is in turn con- 'ected to the solenoid 46. When the switch J3'-i's"closed,= a current passes from the main line-41 'jthrough the magnet 27, switch 53', olenoid'46 to the main line a2. This operates it'oxlraw the" rod- 7 "upward by means of -ithe;.so1encid 46, and at the same time energizes magnet 27 and permits the lowest catch to engage with the postJlO and be retained ierehy. This causes the current to pass througlrall of theresistanceselt and the armature-ofthe motor. As the solenoid 46 connues to draw; the rod 7 on upward the next air of contacts 28 are closed and the lowest c esistance is shortcircuited. The solencid'fflo thus operates; until all ofthe resistancesfiffi, or asmany asis desired, are short circuitcd. The solenoid 4-6 operates to hold tl e rgodlinf its uppermost position and pernit tl' e sv iitches to remain closed until the switch 53 is opened,, when the magnet 27 will .allow the lowest catch 17 to slip oil" from its -pole andopcn the lowest switch first. The aofcarhon contacts, asfliei ore, will thus take the arcing at "the breakingoifthccircuitj meantime the solenoid lo'permits the rod 7 to tl-iop, andthe switches are opened in succession, as before. I The current passing throu h the motor is thus regulated or controlled. I

The invention may lie varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In an. electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a means for closing the said switches, an electromagnetic '55 means for allowing one of the said switches to open and to permit the said closing means to open the remaining switches.

2. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a means for closing the said switches in succession, a re 'taining means connected with each of the said switches, a receptacle containing an insulating iluid for inclosing the said switches and the said retaining means, the said recepin the tacle havingcompartments and a switch located in each of the said compartments.

3. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a plurality of catches associated with the said switches, a rod, means located'on the said. rod for engaging the said catches and adapted to move the said switches until the said catches are so engaged as to maintain the said switches closed.

4. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a catch associated with each of the said switches, a mechanical means adapted to engage with the said catches in succession until the said switches are successively closed as the 'said mechanical means is moved along in one di rection.

5. Inan electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches arranged in a series, a mechanical means for holding the said switches in a closed position and an automatic means whereby the said switcheswill he opened in case the means for closing the said switches have not closed a certain number.

6. in an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches arranged in a series, retaining mechanism for holding said switches in a closed position and means for releasing the said retaining mechanism, a receptacle having compartments, one of said switches located in each of said compartmentsand for containinginsulating fluid or compound.

7. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality oi switches arranged in a series, retaining mechanism for holding said switches in a closed position and means for releasing'the said retaining mechanism, a receptacle having compartments, a separate CQIYIpftIiJJlGHt for containing each ofthe said switches, the walls of the said compartments being composed oiporcelain or other insulating material.

in an electric controller the combina tion of a phirality of switches, a catch connected to each of the said switches, a rod adapted to engage with each of the said catches in succession as the rod is moved continuously in one direction.

9. in an. electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a plurality ofcatches connected to the said switches,

means for cooperating with the said catches.

to retain each of the said switches in a closed position, a rod adapted to engage the said catches to close the switches as the said rod moves continuously in one direction and to trip the said catches to open the switches as the rod moves ontinuously in the opposite direct-ion.

10. In an electric controller the combination. of a plurality of switches, patches connccted to the said switches, means cooperating with the said catches to retain the said switches in a closed position, a means for moving the said catches and causing them to engage and for tripping the said catches to open the switches.

11. In an electric controller the combina tion of a plurality of switches, catches adapted to retain the said switches in closed positions, means l'or closing the said switches and causing the said catches to engage and for tripping the said catches.

12. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, catches adapted to retain the said switches in closed positions, a movable body adapted to operate on the said catches and cause the same to become engaged, a magnet having an armature operated by the said movable body and adapted to hold the same when the said movable body reaches a predetermined point.

13. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a movable body adapted to close the said switches in succession and to open the said switches in succession, a magnet having an armature operated by the said movable body and adapted to retain the said movable body in a predetermined position.

14. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, catches connected to the said switches, a post located between each of the said switches and adapted to guide the same, means for causing the said catches to engage with the said posts.

15. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a post located between each of the said switches for guiding the said switches, a plurality of catches connected to the said switches and ada ted to engage on the said posts, a movab e body adapted to close the said switches and to open the said switches in succession.

16. In. an electric controller the combina tion of a plurality of switches, an electronetic means for retaining certain of the said switches in a closed position and an elcctr0 magnetic means cooperatlng with the sald elcctromagnet for retaining them and the saidswitchcs in a closed position.

17. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a lurality of posts 'for guiding the said switc es, certain of the posts being .magnetic, an electromagnet connected to the said magnetic posts,

a plurality of catches adapted to engage with the said posts to hold the said switches in a closed position, a movable body for engaging the said catches to close the said switches in succession and for tripping the said catches to open the said switches in succession.

18. In an electric controller the combination of a plurality of switches, a mechanical means connected to each of said switches for causing the said switches to remain closed and a means for operating on each of said mechanical means to close the said switches in succession and to open the said switches in succession.

19. In an electric controller the combmation of a plurality of switches,'a mechanical means for completely closing the said switches in succession as the said means is moved continuously 1110118 direction, a mew-- chanical means for retaining each of the saitlii" switches in a closed position, the saidmc- 8o chanical means for closing the said switches adapted to operate upon each of the said retaining means to. open the said switches in succession.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the trio subscribing wltnesses.

ROY W. BROWN.

presence of Witness es:

FRED G. MORsE, J. H. DEALY. 

